WASP-116 b
WASP-116 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting WASP-116 in the constellation Cetus. It lies about 1,824 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2025 using the transit method.
How Big Is WASP-116 b?
WASP-116 b has a radius of 13.67 times that of Earth, or 1.22 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 203 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 0.43 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is WASP-116 b in the Habitable Zone?
WASP-116 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of WASP-116. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of WASP-116: 1.217–2.836 AU (conservative: 1.541–2.689 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
See the full interactive habitable-zone view in the Exoplanet Explorer app ›
Temperature on WASP-116 b
The equilibrium temperature of WASP-116 b is about 1,414 K (1,141 °C) — hot enough to melt many metals. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C. It receives 663 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on WASP-116 b — one full orbit around WASP-116 — lasts 6.61 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.065 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was WASP-116 b Discovered?
WASP-116 b was discovered in 2025 using the transit method, with observations from SuperWASP.
The transit method watches a star for the tiny, regular dip in brightness that occurs when a planet crosses in front of it. The depth and timing of these dips reveal the planet's size and orbital period.
How Far Away Is WASP-116 b?
WASP-116 b is 1,824.0 light-years (559.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,824 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 32,102,400 years to make the journey.
The Host Star: WASP-116
WASP-116
- Surface temperature
- 6,250 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.25 M☉
- Radius
- 1.43 R☉
- Age
- 1.7 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
WASP-116 b is the only planet known to orbit WASP-116 so far.
WASP-116 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 13.675 Earth radii (1.220 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 203.41 Earth masses (0.640 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 0.43 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 6.61 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.065 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 1,414 K (1,141 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 663.00× Earth |
| Distance from Earth | 1,824.0 light-years (559.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cetus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | SuperWASP |
| Discovery year | 2025 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2025-04-21. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About WASP-116 b
Is WASP-116 b habitable?
No — WASP-116 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is WASP-116 b?
WASP-116 b is about 1,824 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cetus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 32,102,400 years to get there.
How big is WASP-116 b compared to Earth?
WASP-116 b has 13.67 times the radius of Earth and about 203 times its mass.
How long is a year on WASP-116 b?
One orbit around WASP-116 takes 6.6 Earth days — short enough that 55 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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